Development Solutions, Inc. (DSI) completed Stockyards Cold, a next-generation cold storage facility developed by Karis Cold in Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood, delivering high-performance, temperature-controlled infrastructure to one of the most supply-constrained industrial markets in the country.

Located at 3815 S. Ashland Avenue, the facility addresses a critical gap in Chicago’s cold storage inventory, where much of the existing supply was built decades ago and lacks the clear heights, storage density, and operational efficiency required by today’s food producers and logistics providers.

Delivered by DSI through a fully integrated design-build approach, Stockyards Cold directly responds to that demand, providing a high-capacity, flexible facility in one of the nation’s most critical food distribution hubs. The project reflects Karis Cold’s broader strategy of developing market-ready cold storage infrastructure in high-bar-rier urban markets.

“Chicago plays a central role in the country’s food distribution network, but the infrastructure supporting it hasn’t kept pace,” said Jake Finley, Founder and CEO of Karis. “We’ve built our platform around delivering modern, high-performance cold storage in markets where outdated inventory creates real constraints. Stockyards Cold is a direct extension of that strategy, bringing the scale, functionality, and efficiency today’s users require to one of the most important food markets in the country.”

DSI delivered the project through a fully integrated design-build approach, coordinating structural systems, refrigeration requirements, and thermal envelope performance from early design through construction. Projects of this complexity require early alignment between design, engineering, and construction—an approach DSI has refined through its experience delivering cold storage and mission-critical industrial facilities. The facility features a 50-foot clear height, enabling significantly greater storage density and throughput.

The building supports approximately 15,580 pallet positions and freezer operations down to -10°F, with flexibility for multiple temperature configurations based on tenant requirements. It also includes infrastructure for blast freezing and advanced temperature monitoring technologies required by today’s cold-chain operators.

Positioned approximately four miles south of downtown within both the McKinley Park neighborhood and the Stockyards Planned Manufacturing District (PMD), the site offers direct access to one of Chicago’s most established food and logistics corridors. The Stockyards PMD is home to more than 265 businesses and 15,000 employees, with a high concentration of food processors and distributors, making it a strategic location for temperature-controlled operations.

By introducing new capacity and operational efficiency into this well-established submarket, the facility is positioned to support faster throughput, reduced logistics costs, and improved supply chain reliability for regional food users.

As a final layer, the building’s exterior features a large-scale mural installation by artist David Banegas, incorporating imagery that reflects Chicago’s industrial history and the surrounding community, bringing a sense of place to a highly technical logistics facility.

“Cold storage requires a level of coordination that goes well beyond traditional industrial construction,” said Jacob Karamol, Owner and Managing Partner of DSI. “These facilities are highly technical environments where structure, refrigeration, and envelope performance must work together seamlessly. Our team is experienced in delivering that level of coordination through a design-build approach, aligning systems early to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and ensure the building performs reliably under demanding operational conditions.”

“We’re seeing strong demand from food users and third-party logistics providers for efficient cold storage in infill locations like this,” said John Basile, Executive Vice President at NAI Hiffman. “There’s a clear shortage of functional, high-clear cold storage in Chicago, particularly within infill submarkets like the Stockyards PMD. Facilities that combine scale, flexibility, and proximity to the city’s food distribution network are increasingly difficult to replicate, which makes Stockyards Cold a compelling opportunity for users in today’s market.”

The project represents the latest collaboration between Karis Cold and DSI and reinforces continued investment in high-performance logistics infrastructure across Chicago’s industrial market.